Archive for March, 2011

If you want to play better golf, focus is the key!

Ever notice how targets in golf get progressively smaller the closer you get to the hole? Here is what I mean. On the tee box, your target is the fairway. Most fairways are 20 to 50 yards wide. Approach shots are played into greens which are smaller targets than fairways. Once on or around the green, you try to chip or lag putt the ball to within a few feet of the cup. And then finally, the ball is played into a hole that is 4.25 inches in diameter. That is a drastic change in target size and it happens on all 18 holes.

Here is another interesting observation. A missed shot when playing towards a large target is much easier to swallow than missing a smaller target. It seems like expectations increase as target size decreases. Again, here is what I mean. If your intent is to hit the right side of the fairway and you end up hitting the left side, it’s likely the other three players in your group say, “Nice shot.” You could have missed your target by 30 yards but it’s still considered a good shot because you hit the fairway. What if you were to miss a 10 foot putt by 30 yards? That would quite possibly go down in history as the worst golf shot ever. The same 30 yard miss carries different weight because of the size of the target and your level of expectation.

You can miss a tee shot by 30 yards and still consider it a good shot. But what if you miss a 3 foot by an inch? It’s a bad putt, right? Do you see how the pressure builds as we approach the green and ultimately the hole? This is dangerous because as the targets get smaller, your level of expectation grows. And as expectations grow, so does pressure.

So how does focus help?
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Today’s chipping lesson will quickly describe two different philosophies for shots around the greens. Find the one that works best and you will no doubt play better golf.

Philosophy 1 – Use 1 or 2 clubs with multiple swings and ball positions.
Philosophy 2 – Use the same chipping motion with multiple clubs.

I’ve tried both methods over the years and ended up using the first simply because it worked better for me. Please understand this doesn’t mean it will work better for you. Here are quick explanations for each method.

#1: I hit 95% of all chip shots with my 60 degree lob wedge. For high shots, I’ll open the club face and play the ball in the middle of my stance. For lower, running shots, I’ll square up the face and play the ball off my back toe with my weight forward. These changes allow me to achieve many different trajectories and run out options with the same club. For long shots that must release across most of the green, I’ll grab a pitching wedge and play it back in my stance. It’s rare that I grab another club other than these two. This philosophy is characterized by multiple shots with a select few clubs.

#2: I’ve seen the second method work just as well by a friend of mine who played Division 1 golf here in Colorado. He basically uses a putting motion when chipping and changes clubs based on the desired carry and run out needed for the shot. He’ll use a lob wedge all the way up to a 5 iron. His set up position is very consistent with the ball played in the middle of his stance and his weight slightly forward. He’ll take the club back just below knee height and then follow through. This philosophy is characterized by multiple clubs used with the same chipping motion.

If you’ve struggled with shots around the greens, spend a little time with both methods to see which works best. I’m guessing one or the other will stand out. This is the one you should commit to. It sounds insignificant but committing mentally to your preferred method is critical. It helps with confidence and it also keeps your practice time productive. You won’t waste time experimenting when you already know what to work on.

That wraps up today’s quick chipping lesson. Now get out there, find what works and play better golf this year.

Increased Confidence = Better Chip Shots = More Up and Downs = Better Scores
*Finding your preferred method will no doubt give your confidence a boost.

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check back soon.
Mike

Follow me on Twitter: @Mike_Snyder